BB: Return of the Joker is the LAST DCAU story...

[Gpoliceman]

Hello everybody,

I was listening to the soundtrack for Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and I realized that since Batman Beyond takes place 50 years into the future, our only current DCAU cartoon, Justice League Unlimited, is not actually the end-all of the DCAU.

On a timeline, Batman Beyond is actually the last collection of stories we ever get of the DCAU since the timeline order of the DCAU goes pretty much like B:TAS, S:TAS, JL, JLU, BB. Basically, Batman is born. Superman is born. Batman and Superman meet. The Justice League is created. The League becomes Unlimited. 50 years later, Terry takes over the Bat mantle. The End.

So the last track on the BB: ROTJ soundtrack ends with Terry's heroic theme as he flies off into the city to fight crime once again. So it got me thinking: That's it. That image is really, truly the FINAL image of the DCAU we'll ever get. That's the end of the DCAU right there. True, we are only now seeing the stories of JLU , but placed on a timeline, Terry (after defeating the Joker) flying off into future Gotham City is ACTUALLY the FINAL image of the DCAU.

So with all this banter about the JLU being the last hooray of the DCAU, shouldn't we reflect for a moment? Whatever the final episode of JLU may be, the final image of the DCAU, on a timeline, is still Terry flying off into Gotham.

So, folks...

we already have our final image.

(tears begin to drop)

what do you think of it?

Gpoliceman

PS: I think the final image is fitting. It lets the audience know that while the era of Bruce Wayne, who started it all with the DCAU, is over, the war on evil continues forevermore.

[FunTurtle]

Possible JLU spoilers for you kids who haven't seen Once and Future Thing...
Timeline wise, yeah, I'll give it to you, its last...
But anyone that sees the DCAU for the first time needs to see it like it was released. How do you explain things like "The Once and Future Thing" or "Future Shock?" You don't get that shock value of seeing the ROTJ gang in Once and Future Thing if you've never seen them before. Same with Warhawk. It just helps the story along to see it (B:TAS, S:TAS, BB, JL/JLU). I mean...it all made perfect sense to US seeing it that way, so why change it up?

[efumf]

The Zeta Project is the last DCAU story.

[Fone Bone]

The Zeta Project is the last DCAU story.If we're really picky the prologue to STAS's New Kids in Town is (See Fone Bone's Brilliant, Big But Sadly irrellevant to Wake the Dead's Talkback DCAU list!)

Future Shock may also take place after The Zeta Project (and it probably does) but The Zeta Project is the last DCAU setting chronologically that doesn't involve time-travel.

[Squall]

I still think that BB "Return of The Joker" takes place between seasons 2 and 3 of Batman Beyond, and that that final episode of Batman Beyond is BB "The Call"... ;) :p You've gotta admit, having the final episode of the Timm DCAU be that a new Batman, for a new generation, join a new generation's Justice League is quite a way to go! :cool:

[William C. Maune]

It's only the end if no more episodes in the future era are made! Yeah, I know its unlikely. However, if ratings were especially good for the JLU/BB crossover, perhaps it will get CN thinking about some more Beyond. Or perhaps after 52 episodes of JLU will get another change and it will be something like Justice League Unlimited Beyond.

[BeastBoyWonder]

Yeah, to me Return of the Joker is like the grand finale of the DCAU -- it works so well.

[90'sCartoonMan]

The Zeta Project is the last DCAU setting chronologically that doesn't involve time-travel.
I never followed The Zeta Project. Did the last episode of that air after the final episode of Batman Beyond aired? They pretty much ran at the same time chronologically, right?

Interesting thread, Gpoliceman, I never thought of that (although when I was watching "Future Shock", I was thinking about how this is a post-ROTJ Terry). I know this may sound kind of disturbing, but I was hoping the last thing we'd see is the death of Bruce Wayne with Terry, Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, Superman, and whoever else at his bedside. Still, ROTJ had a satisfying ending.

[Fone Bone]

I never followed The Zeta Project. Did the last episode of that air after the final episode of Batman Beyond aired? They pretty much ran at the same time chronologically, right?

Interesting thread, Gpoliceman, I never thought of that (although when I was watching "Future Shock", I was thinking about how this is a post-ROTJ Terry). I know this may sound kind of disturbing, but I was hoping the last thing we'd see is the death of Bruce Wayne with Terry, Barbara Gordon, Dick Grayson, Superman, and whoever else at his bedside. Still, ROTJ had a satisfying ending.The Zeta Project first season episode Shadows took place chronologically AFTER Return of the Joker (Bruce's company is referred to as Wayne Enterprises NOT Wayne/Powers). It is safe to assume that the rest of ZP season one and ALL of season two take place after Batman Beyond.

Note: The Batman Beyond episode Countdown takes place before Shadows as this is where Ro meets Batman.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

I'm really hoping that Terry comes back as Batman in a Justice League Beyond Series then Timm & Co can finally close there story properly.